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Difficult Gardens -- Shady Northern Exposures-Part I

© Diana Pederson

Last week, I outlined several problems that can be difficult to solve. This week, we will begin looking at shade-loving (or at least tolerant) plants.

Begonias are faithful shade garden flowers. The fibrous rooted or wax begonias are available in colors ranging from solid white to deep red with heights varying from 5" to 12" or more. They are excellent plants in strawberry jars or the hanging plant pouches becoming common today. I have planted strawberry jars to create pillars of color to fill areas between shrubs. These look best when planted with the same color begonia rather than a mixture. Only the front pockets are planted since the back ones face my unit and not seen by anyone anyway. Why waste plants? Tuberous begonias are wonderful in hanging baskets, small pots, or in the garden bed. The non-stop varieties are most reliable for season-long color. Rex begonias with the multi colored leaves are excellent hanging basket plants that can spend summers outside in an outside location and be enjoyed as winter houseplants. This article discusses the care and propagation of various species of begonias.

Annual Heliotrope can be grown in a very shady spots. They are in full color by late July and last until frost kills them. I strongly recommend this plant for shaded conditions although it is normally advertised as a sun-demanding plant! .

Monarda comes in several colors. Monarda Blaustrumpf 'Blue Stocking' is a reliable July bloomer with deep violet flowers. Bees and butterflies are attracted when this plant is in bloom. However, like most monardas, by late July the leaves are mildewed and the lower stems barren. I cut it back and place a large container of other shade-loving plants over the spot. Maybe someone will develop mildew-resistant varieties in the future.

Impatiens are traditional shade garden flowers and have become so common that I avoid them. The New Guinea Impatiens proved difficult to grow--always too wet or too dry. Impatiens are very sensitive to water and quickly rot if too wet or wilt when dry. Burpee has recently introduced three new impatien varieties. The African Queen Impatiens are the first yellow flowered impatiens available in the U.S. They proved somewhat difficult to grow from seed (not available at garden centers) but were worth the trouble. The flowers are cupped and remind me of Lady's slippers. They thrive in deep shade under evergreen bushes. African Queen doesn't produce abundant flowers but definitely invites you to come closer and take another look. African Queen did very well in a clay strawberry jar. Their African Orchids impatiens are the result of crossing several African species. I am eagerly looking forward to seing how well the seed germinates and if they look anything like the picture in the Burpee catalog! If they do, this will be a real bright spot in my shade garden. They also sell a blue-violet species of Indian Impatiens called Blue Angel.. You must get their catalog to order these.

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